When I tell someone that I am in a long distance relationship, it usually prompts a look of distress and a sad, "Oh, why?" The consensus among our society seems to be that any relationships requiring regular travel, late night phone calls or FaceTimes, and a zip code change are doomed to fail, but are they? According to TIME, almost 75 percent of college students say that they have been in a long-distance relationship.
In my personal experience, I have found that being in a LDR has taught me more about not only my relationship, but the future that I see with it. After picking up my life and moving 200+ miles away while he stayed back at home, I realized all of the little things that I took for granted. It's easy to be around someone for so long and not even realize the impact that your relationship is having on your life. After doing long distance for about half a year now, I learned that having meaningful communication has really strengthened my relationship. Technology like Skype, FaceTime, and Snapchat make it easy to keep in constant contact. So, while some people are zoned out on Netflix with their partners on the couch, couples who live apart are actually talking.
Boredom seems to be the death of any relationship. In my case, while seeing my boyfriend sporadically, extraordinary tends to be the norm. Seeing him only once a month allows me to put in a little extra effort. Day-to-day troubles cause the most problems in high school relationships. While falling into an everyday routine is nice, being away makes the time that is spent together much more special. There's no need to fight about small things when you're cherishing every moment in their presence.
I think that when people hear "long distance," they freak out. The question is whether it's worth it, or if their partner will stay loyal. In my case, none of those questions ever ran through my mind. I believe that a strong relationship is built on trust. If I ever doubted that we couldn't trust each other, then my relationship would not exist in the way that it does today. Before considering staying together, the couple must really look deeply into the future and see if they believe that it will work for both people.
Is it lonely? It can be. I compensate for the loneliness by throwing myself into other things and getting involved. In the process, I feel as if I am a stronger, more confident individual. I've learned that my relationship is interdependent. We do not rely on each other for everything, but it is the best feeling to know that we are there for each other all of the time.
Take my advice if you're considering a long distance relationship. You are not doomed to fail.
